Anyone still measure the food they give LO?

ohioroots

DD is on pretty much all table foods at this point (if she gobbles up what I give her I usually offer her purees just to make sure she's not still hungry). I don't really measure what I give to her though, I just kind of eyeball the amounts. Should I still be measuring out how much food I give her? If so, should I measure it ounces (with a food scale) or in tablespoons/cup sizes?

ASmallWonder

I never ever did this.  Unless she has a weight problem I guess I don't see the value.

robinsokj

Never did it. 

hayatiggs

Never did it. The girls let me know when they are done eating..

Ivana_Stolichnaya

That's a little anal...just give her food, she will let you know when she's full.

driveshorses

I've never weighed her food. I just give her a bit of everything until she's done.

 What's the reason for weighing/measuring food out?

emiliemadison

I've never measured food for my kids. Why are you doing that in the first place? 

robinsokj

Yeah, I don't understand the purpose of this.  I don't want to sound insensitive or rude, but it sounds a little EDesque

snansley

I don't do it, but I can understand why it could make sense.  I feel like I don't know how much DS gets with finger foods and if it is enough.  Sometimes I feel a bit better knowing he is getting 1/2 a banana or an ounce of cheese or some measurable portion of food.  It also helps me know how much to send to daycare.

Kara5109

Yeah, I'm with everybody else. I have never even heard of this. Of course I knew how much she was eating when she was on purees, but now I just feed her till she is full.

Dreamsicle23

I have never measured anything other than powder formula.

aluminium

I measure everything but only because I have to. DS has a metabolic disorder, so we have to keep track of everything so we can tell his dietitian what/when he eats. Other than that, I don't really see any reason why you should measure everything/anything.

jp03

We've started doing this for Stephanie as of a month ago, because a) she won't tell us when she's done.  She'd eat 24 hours a day if she could.  and b) she's almost 98% for weight at her age.

As she's almost 11 months now, we do 1/4cup protein-type food and 1/2 cup fruits/veggies, milk or water separately (as much as she wants) and wheat puffs or cheerios or rice krispies separately.

Do what you need to do and what your paediatrician suggests.

nosoup4u

hayatiggs:

Never did it. The girls let me know when they are done eating..

This. Babies and toddlers self-regulate. 

There was a woman in the 1930s who did a study letting babies eat as much of whatever they wanted (out of meat, fruit, veg, milk, etc - whole foods). The babies ate some crazy stuff (one at handfuls of salt, one drank a quart of milk a day), but over the course of a week, they all ate very balanced diets. So wacky!

countrymice06

I never did it and have never heard of anyone doing it, but I can understand the appeal.  

ohioroots

Thanks ladies! As I said, I never have measured, I was just wondering if I should be. DD is 50th percentile for weight, so we certainly aren't having a problem either direction. I just feel like lately she wants to keep eating, and eating, and eating, and I just have no clue how much I'm giving of what. I guess I was wondering if I should aim for 1/2 cup of veggies, 1/4 cup protein, etc. per day.